People and Skills Grant success
Published
Tuesday 20 August, 2024
Updated
Wednesday 21 August, 2024
Local charities will help people build confidence, learn new skills and gain employment thanks to grants totalling over £130,000 from the UK government through Swale Borough Council.
The new People and Skill’s Grant, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), is enabling Swale’s non-profit organisations to deliver initiatives to help locals with education opportunities, digital skills training and access to vital employment support in partnership with East Kent College Group and Jobcentre Plus.
The first round of the grant scheme saw eight local organisations awarded funding: Citizens Advice, Midkent Mind, SATEDA ltd, Swale Community & Voluntary Services, Medway Diversity Forum, Faversham Umbrella, Diversity House and the Pyramid Project.
Their projects will focus on providing support to people who are unemployed and young people who are not in education, employment or training, though a variety of courses and activities including cooking, basic digitals skills and tailored support.
The projects, which will be delivered in partnership with East Kent College Group and Jobcentre Plus, aim to:
- increase confidence to apply for skills and digital training and further education
- explore training and skills and digital development options and education options
- access employment support, providing digital skills qualifications and awarding qualifications or licences
This scheme is only open to Swale’s voluntary, community, social enterprise and faith (VCSEF) sector and the successful bids were scored and assessed by a panel including external partner organisations.
Cllr Monique Bonney, chair of the property and economy committee, said:
“Having access to employment is key to helping people escape poverty, find a better quality of life and feel fulfilled.
“Entering the job market can be a daunting process and with technology changing at a rapid pace people can sometimes feel like they are lagging behind.
“That is why the projects being delivered thanks to our grants will help people feel confident to look for work, knowing they have the skills to thrive in their chosen workplace.
“Any skills people can develop will give them a strong platform to launch their careers, or help them move up the ladder, and I would strongly recommend our residents take up this amazing opportunity.
“Thank you to all of the organisations who applied I am looking forward to seeing your amazing work continue as you help Swale residents into employment.”
The full list of funded projects:
Citizens Advice | Financial Capability Project - This initiative will offer workshops where users can build their numerical skills, gain essential digital literacy, and develop confidence in their financial decisions. Specific activities in the workshops would cover the following topics:
| £17,260.04 |
Midkent Mind | Numeracy and Nutrition – Courses for adults to develop their numeracy skills, improve their personal confidence and self-esteem and teach them how to prepare nutritious cost-effective meals. | £14,995.68 |
SATEDA ltd | Employability Skills for Survivors of Domestic Abuse – A programme of employability activity provided to domestic abuse survivors, including training on CV writing, interview skills and smart job searching. | £17,871.00 |
Swale Community & Voluntary Services | Get Online and Up With the Times – Workshops to improve digital access for people with long-term disability living in rural areas. Helping them access digital services in a social setting. | £4,496.00 |
Medway Diversity Forum | Creating Life Chances – A programme to help young people get jobs locally in catering and hospitality. | £19,830.00 |
Faversham Umbrella | Preparation for adulthood and upskilling for the community – Providing an environment for pupils with profound, sever and complex needs (including autism) to further their studies gain more independence and grow confidence in their ability to integrate into the community. | £19,708.40 |
Diversity House | Empowerment through Digital Inclusion – The project aims to enhance employability skills, promote digital inclusion, and empower participants to achieve economic self-sufficiency and career advancement, through employability and skills workshops, digital skills training, career coaching, entrepreneurship workshops, guest speaker events and digital qualifications and certifications. | £20,000.00 |
Pyramid Project | New Horizons - A series of workshops aimed at supporting individuals to gain the self-confidence, skills and where relevant, qualifications needed to secure meaningful employment. The programme will focus on individuals who have found previous engagement with learning or employment difficult and as a result have become isolated and disinterested. | £20,000.00 |
